PHOENIX, Ariz. -– Maricopa County continues to gain population, but at a slower rate than in past decades, according to official census figures released today by the U.S. Census Bureau. The numbers released today include population, housing, and ethnicity data for Arizona, including specific numbers by county and municipality. The information was gathered during the decennial census conducted on April 1, 2010.

The resident population for Maricopa County was 3,817,117, representing an increase of 744,968 people, a 24.2 percent increase in population since Census 2000. The annual growth rate was 2.2 percent.

In terms of total growth by percentage, Buckeye was the fastest-growing community in the Maricopa region, adding 44,339 people since 2000 for a growth rate of 678 percent. Surprise moved into the top 10 Maricopa County cities by population, while Chandler moved up in rank to number three on the list.

Of the 20 largest cities in Arizona, 12 are in Maricopa County, including Goodyear, which ranked 14th in the state (11th in the region), and Buckeye, which ranked 16th in the state (12th in the region).

The Maricopa region recorded 1,639,279 housing units, meaning it added 389,048 housing units over the past 10 years.

The Maricopa Association of Governments (MAG) is working to summarize the data in a series of tables that will be uploaded to the Web. Datasets will include:

- 2010 Census Population and Housing Summary
- Population and Housing Unit Change: 2000 to 2010
- Population Ranking
- 2010 Census Population by Race and Hispanic/Latino Ethnicity
- Detail Tables for Population by Race and Hispanic/Latino Ethnicity
- 2010 Census Population by Age (0-17 years; 18 years and Over)

The U.S. Constitution requires a complete count of the population every 10 years.